US airman charged with making pressure cooker threat at Logan International Airport

An airman in the US Air Force is facing charges that he made a threat, claiming to have a pressure cooker in his bag, at Logan International Airport, authorities said.

Jeremy Sawyer of Cicero, N.Y., approached Massport employee Carlos Torres Jr. at an information booth at about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday in Terminal C, a State Police report filed in East Boston District Court said.

Sawyer requested that Torres accept him into the USO military lounge in the terminal. Torres checked to see if the lounge was open. When he discovered it was not and notified Sawyer, Sawyer allegedly became “upset and irate,” according to the report.

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Sawyer, 30, spoke about the Boston Marathon bombings during the confrontation and pointed to his backpack and said, “What am I supposed to do with this pressure cooker?” according to the report.

After his statement, Sawyer pounded his fists on the table and left toward Terminal E. The alleged threat was immediately broadcast to State Police stationed in the airport, and all available officers were dispatched. Two officers found Sawyer at about 12:15 p.m. in Terminal E. After confirming his identity, they arrested him for making a threat concerning the location of a dangerous device.

A pressure cooker was never found on Sawyer or in his bag, said State Police spokesman David Procopio. Authorities have alleged that the bombs used in the Boston Marathon attacks consisted of explosives packed in pressure cookers.

Sawyer was arraigned in East Boston District Court Wednesday on a charge of making a bomb or hijack threat. A not-guilty plea was automatically entered on his behalf, the Suffolk district attorney’s office said.

Sawyer was released on his own recognizance with an order that he stay away from Logan. His next scheduled court appearance is Dec. 20, prosecutors said.